Madison Cooley Audrey Huang and Kathy Lin Doran Thesis As an effort to take down Britain whom the Germans viewed as their biggest rival Germany attacked their ally France The Germans launched an attack on the area where French valued the most Verdun Frances symbol of national pre ID: 250422
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Slide1
The Battle of Verdun
Madison Cooley, Audrey Huang,
and Kathy LinSlide2
(Doran) Thesis
As an effort to take down Britain, whom the Germans viewed as their biggest rival, Germany attacked their ally, France. The Germans launched an attack on the area where French valued the most, Verdun, France’s symbol of national prestige. Classified as the longest and most devastating battle in WWI, the Battle of Verdun disturbed the national French psyche, exemplifying society’s change of opinion towards war and the horror of trench warfare. Furthermore, extreme German pressures towards France impelled the British to take action on the Somme, resulting in another lengthy, costly war.Slide3
Overview
One of the costliest wars of WWIExemplified “war of attrition”German siege of Verdun and its ring of fortsLongest war in WWILasted from February 21, 1916 to December 19, 1916Over 700,000 casualties
Battlefield was not even ten km2Slide4
German General Erich Von Falkenhayn thought that England was Germany's most important enemy
Von Falkenhayn believed that France’s defeat would inevitably lead to England’s collapseThe Setup: Location Planning
Properly mustachioedSlide5Slide6
Verdun was an important fortified stronghold at the E. border of France, b/c:Part of the line of defense
Northern gate to Paris (Schlieffen Plan)Verdun was part of the French psyche & had historic sentiment; thus, The French “would be compelled to throw in every man they have”The Plan: Take Down FranceSlide7
French knew Germans were coming, but didn't know they would choose Verdun, so French were unprepared once
the battle started.The Plan: Take Down FranceSlide8
Feb. 21, 1916: Start with heavy German bombardment on the FrenchFeb. 25:
Germans take Fort DouaumontFrench reinforcements, led by General Henri Pétain, counterattacked and slowed German advanceMarch & April: Hills and ridges W. of the Meuse R. & N. of Verdun were bombarded, attacked, counterattacked, taken, & retaken (overall not much progress)Battle/TimelineSlide9
June: Germans try to assault heights along Meuse but couldn’t maintain an advantageJuly:
(Britain launches attack on the Somme Battle of the Somme) Germans realize that their plan resulted in terrible losses with little gainOct.-Dec.: French took offensive & regained forts/territories lostBattle/TimelineSlide10
*Note: Technically the French won, but since they suffered such as tremendous loss, the victory did not feel like a true triumph.Slide11Slide12Slide13
Intense German pressure on the French made British action on the Somme increasingly
urgent Battle of the SommeThe horror of the fighting had a traumatic psychological effect on France's national psycheLongest & most devastating battles in WWISignificanceSlide14Slide15
“...I have returned from the most terrible ordeal I have ever witnessed...Four days and four nights...in ice-cold mud...kept under relentless fire, without any protection whatsoever except for the narrow trench, which even seemed to be too wide...I arrived with 175 men, I returned with 34 of whom several had half turned insane....”
Witness Account~ French captainSlide16
"...the soldiers fell over like tin soldiers. Almost all our officers get hurt or killed and many of our men get killed because of their own artillery fire which is too close and therefore causes many victims..."
Witness Account~ German soldierSlide17Slide18Slide19Slide20Slide21
"Battle of Verdun." Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p
., 19 June 2013. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. "Battle of Verdun Ends." History Channel. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.Palmer, Peter J. "The Battle of Verdun, 1916." The Western Front Association. Hendersonline, 17 Mar. 2010. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.
Works Cited